Brooke Shields said she thought George Michael was a "remarkable, respectful and patient gentleman" when she dated him, and thought: "It must be love."

The actress, who was still a virgin at 19, said she cringes now at how open she was about talking about the value of waiting until marriage to have sex.

In an extract from her book There Was A Little Girl: The Real Story Of My Mother And Me, published in The Times Magazine, Brooke said of the Wham! star: "Nobody had ever been willing to move so slowly. It must be love."

The two stars had their first date in a private dining room on the rooftop of a hotel where they were both staying in Chicago.

Brooke said George walked her back to her room where she says he told her he wanted to see her again.

"He left without even trying to kiss me. I was so touched by what a real gentleman he was," she said.

The pair went on a few more dates in New York City, and she added: "I thought he was a remarkable, respectful and patient gentleman who was obviously aware of my hesitance regarding sex."

Brooke said Boy George ran up to them at a party for Grace Jones claiming to have heard a rumour.

After the party Brooke said in the extract that George said to her: "I think we need to take a break. I need to concentrate on my career."

The Suddenly Susan star said she cried herself to sleep "for weeks".

In an interview with the magazine Brooke also said John Travolta would pick her up from high school.

"He would have been mobbed. He was, like, 'We'll meet at the corner'."